ISCHIA, ITALY — Regina Isabella. Not just a beautiful name. A glorious hotel.

At the crossroads of Mediterranean civilization, Ischia was inhabited 7,000 years ago. Centuries later the Greeks discovered this island off Italy’s coast. What they were looking for, who knows? Maybe how to shore up the prehistoric drachma.

They found, instead, hot springs. Healing waters.

Bourbon’s Queen Maria Isabella, born 1789, wed at 13 in nearby Naples to French-Bourbon King Ferdinand’s son, came for the magical thermal waters. Maybe she was dunking to help fertile Ferdie. After 12 children, the hot springs got named for her.

Along came Angelo Rizzoli of the publishing Rizzolis. Loving this serene fishing village on the shores of the sea, a puff away from Mount Vesuvius, amongst the Island of Health’s rocks, crooks, grottoes and caves, he built Albergo della Regina Isabella, centerpiece of today’s Ischia.

Then came Elizabeth Taylor/Richard Burton’s escape from the rigors of doing “Cleopatra” in Rome as well as the vigors of Doing It everywhere. From their terrace, a cranky Elizabeth threw the clothes of a naked Richard into the sea.

The locals claim he found something to wear and, as she was crying, “Burton, Burton, who’s got the Burton?” he lumbered into town, where for a make-up gift be bought tizzy Lizzie a diamond ring.

Bad Boy Burton’s gone. But I’ve been hunting that jeweler ever since.

Other hotel stories exist. Like when a famous designer checked into his boyfriend before he checked into the room. Or the Hollywood actress who took off her bra while the bellboy took up her bag. Or the German diva who trashed her suite, slashed the drapes, smashed the furniture then cashed in a half-inch of euros to pay for it.

And there’s the US superstar who sends directives ahead. It’s the guillotine if you make eye contact.

Understand, this didn’t happen at this particular hotel. However, if you’re really nice to me and don’t send me your usual nasty letter that begins “Dear Stupid,” I might tell you who, what, where and when.

The season’s closing feast featured Roederer Champagne plus Louis Roederer himself pouring the Cristal. Also, one course was beef under a black-and-white-squares chessboard. The chess pieces were puff pastry.